Midterms Are Weeks Away: What Your 501(c)(4) Can and Can't Do in an Election
A 501(c)(4) may electioneer only while politics stays under half its effort, per IRS rules — and political spending triggers 21% tax via Form 1120-POL.
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Internal Controls
Systems and procedures that safeguard assets, ensure accurate records, and prevent fraud
Skimmed at the Pump: The Fuel-Card Controls That Stop Fleet Fuel Fraud
Up to 22% of fleet fuel spend is lost to fraud. Driver PINs, gallon caps, and telematics matching stop cloned cards at the pump.
When Your Church's Kindness Creates a Tax Bill: Benevolence Funds and Love Offerings Done Right
Benevolence paid to a church employee is always taxable IRS wages on Form W-2 — gifts to needy non-employees are tax-free. The policy that keeps both straight.
You Overpaid an Employee — Here's How to Get It Back Without Breaking the Law
An overpaid employee owes you the net, not the gross — recover it with written consent, IRS same-year corrections, and no dip below minimum wage.
Are Your Licensees Underpaying You? A Small Licensor's Guide to Royalty Audits
Nearly 9 in 10 audited licensees underpay royalties, mostly by accident. The 7 errors audits find, the red flags, and the audit clause that shifts the cost.
Duplicate Invoice Payments: The Hidden Profit Leak Draining Up to 2% of Your Vendor Spend
Duplicate payments siphon 0.8–2% of vendor spend. Sweep your AP history, recover overpayments fast, and lock in five controls.
Nigeria E-Invoicing for Medium Taxpayers: A Guide to the NRS Merchant-Buyer System
Nigerian firms with ₦1–5 billion turnover must clear B2B invoices on the NRS MBS platform since July 1, 2026; enforcement and penalties begin in Q1 2027.
Selling Abroad? The FCPA Rules Every Small Exporter Should Know
The U.S. FCPA covers small exporters too: a foreign agent's bribe can be yours, grease payments rarely qualify, and clean books are your best defense.
AI Close Agents Draft Your Month-End Books — How to Review and Sign Off Safely
Puzzle AI Close drafts reconciliations and schedules; one firm closes by business day 4. Your approval is now the control — use this 6-step sign-off checklist.
SIM-Swap Fraud Can Empty Your Business Bank Account in an Afternoon: Port-Out PINs, Authenticator Apps, and the Alerts That Catch a Takeover Early
A SIM swap hands your number to a criminal who resets passwords and wires out your balance — lock the carrier account, quit SMS codes, call back on wires.
Skimming and Lapping, Explained: How Cash Goes Missing Before — and After — It Hits Your Books
Skimming steals cash before it is recorded; lapping hides it by misapplying later payments. A proof of cash and split duties catch both.
Benford's Law: The First-Digit Test That Catches Fake Invoices in Your Books
About 30% of real accounting amounts start with the digit 1 — fabricated invoices rarely do. Here's how to run a Benford first-digit test in a spreadsheet.